International Business Machines Corporation

James L Peacock

Don Alan Gilliland

Darryl John Becker

Matthew Allen Butterbaugh

Donald E Hora

Brian B Hanson

Scott Alan Shurson

Roger Duane Hamilton

David George Lund

Maurice Francis Holahan

Christopher William Mann

Scott Marvin Thorvilson

Jerry Richard Rasmussen

Charles C Stratton

Bruce Phillip Otis

John Stephen Maas

Timothy Paul Duncan

William C Wann, Jr

Max J Koschmeder

A motion detector is provided that enables power to a computer module to be disconnected prior to removal of the module from the connector. Actuation of a sensor causes a shutter assembly to move vertically. The shutter assembly is in communication with a switch. Movement of the shutter assembly causes actuation of the switch to send a signal to a control circuit of an associated controller. Power to the controller is provided when the shutter assembly is in communication with the switch, and power is removed from the connector when the shutter assembly is not in communication with the switch.

PC card motion detector

Methods and apparatus disclosed for providing a fastener that can hold suitably flat planar objects. No tools are required to actuate the fastener. The fastener holds the object with a predetermined range of force, determined by a built-in spring when actuated. The fastener is particularly suited for fastening Printed Wiring Boards (PWBs) in an electronics enclosure, and holds the PWBs in position, as well as providing electrical coupling of a voltage supply used on the PWB to the electronic enclosure.

Toolless fastening mechanism

A dual hinge door assembly is provided that enables selective opening of one side of a two sided door or removal of the door. The two sides of the door have identical assemblies that connect via a horizontal bar. Actuating a switch causes the bar to move horizontally in one of two directions. Movement of the bar causes assemblies on each side of the door to rotate and translate the horizontal motion of the bar to vertical motion of a set of lock pins, and causes the handle on the side of the door selected for opening to become visible to the operator. Upon pulling the handle, the side of the door adjacent to the lock will open while the opposite side remains stationary. Alternatively, the assembly may be modified to cause both handles to release. The operator may then pull both handles to remove the door from the housing.

Selectable door and panel access mechanism

A cover is operable to seat and unseat electronic components. The cover is detached from an enclosure exposing an access opening. An electronic component, such as an expansion card, is inserted by an operator into guide rails housed within the opening. A first catch mechanism of the cover pivotally engages the opening so as to form a lever arm. A second catch mechanism connects with a mating catch of the electronic component. The component traverses the guide rails according to the rotation of the cover. The mechanical advantage realized by the cover overcomes the forces associated with seating and detaching connector pins of the electronic component with sockets of an expansion bus. The cover detaches from both the component and the enclosure prior to being repositioned to overlap the opening.

Combination computer access cover and component removal tool

An electromagnetic interference shielding arrangement, includes a duplex optical transceiver having a light-emitter and a light-receiver disposed adjacent to each other and at an end of the optical transceiver. A first electromagnetic interference shield covers a major portion of the optical transceiver. A tailstock has an aperture disposed in alignment with the end of the optical transceiver. A second electromagnetic interference shield is positionable to shield the end of the optical transceiver. The second electromagnetic interference shield includes a pipe formed from a conductive material. The pipe has two opposing openings, and an axis extending from one of the openings to the other of the openings. The pipe has a profile that corresponds to a profile of the end of the optical transceiver. A septum is attached to the pipe. The septum is formed from a conductive material. The septum is arranged to extend in a direction that is at an angle to the axis.

Enhanced electromagnetic interference shield

The design of an electro-magnetic radiation suppression shield and cooling housing for a computer, server or other electronic device having a computer processor may be greatly enhanced and expedited by a test apparatus that permits the placement of electro-magnetic radiation suppression plates at differing locations, spacings and alignments, which allows a variance in positioning the electro-magnetic radiation source. The test apparatus not only has an air flow cooling opening in which an electro-magnetic radiation suppression panel forms cooling air flow holes but also a fixture for disposing a second similar electromagnetic radiation suppression panel at a distance from the first electro-magnetic radiation suppression panel. Each of the panels may be substituted to test various designs. The test apparatus further is provided with a telescoping support projecting into the interior cavity so that the electromagnetic radiation source may be moved about in the interior and thus simulate a large number of positions and conditions. The test apparatus provides a greatly enhanced tool in the trial and error approach to electro-magnetic radiation control.

Apparatus for testing various structural parameters of an electro-magnetic radiation barrier

A panel latch,includes at least one flexible latch member,having a base portion,, a first leg,, and a second leg,attached to the first leg via the base portion. The flexible latch member,further has a latch portion,and a stop member,disposed on the first leg,. The latch portion,is separated from the stop member,to accommodate therebetween at least two separate parts,that are to be latched together. The legs,of the flexible latch member can be flexed so as to shift the latch portion,and the stop member,in a direction toward the second leg,to allow the two parts,to be unlatched from each other. A generally U-shaped, rigid latch retaining member,is provided that has a first leg,with free end. A second leg,of the latch retaining member,is connected to the flexible latch member,. The first leg,of the latch retaining member has a catch portion,and a stop member,disposed thereon in a region of the free end to accommodate and hold therebetween only one,of the at least two separate parts that are to be latched together.

Enhanced panel latch

A semiconductor package includes a circuit chip which presents electrical contacts configured and aligned for attachment to corresponding contacts on a supporting substrate. The semiconductor package further includes an interposer with upper surface contacts aligned with the circuit chip contacts and lower surface contacts aligned with the corresponding contacts on the supporting substrate. The interposer includes a series of ground plane layers which are capacitively coupled to the conductors that connect the upper surface contacts to the lower surface contacts. The ground plane layers closest to the circuit chip have plates therebetween and electrically separated therefrom which are connected to the power input supply lines to form decoupling capacitances. The ground plane layers more remote from the circuit chip have, therebetween and electrically separated therefrom, conductive flange portions attached to individual signal lines to form a low pass feed through filter for each signal line. The capacitance of the flange portions is designed to establish the correct roll off to pass the desired signals and shunt to ground the unwanted harmonics while the decoupling capacitance is sized to afford the required, stabilized power supply. The semiconductor package also may include a conductive shield member that surrounds the top and four sides of the package and is connected to the grounded elements of the interposer to provide mechanical connection and apply ground potential to the shield.

Interposer array module for capacitive decoupling and filtering

An enhanced electrical arrangement for a computer includes a first circuit board, and a second circuit board arranged essentially parallel to the first circuit board. A removable array connector is positionable between the first circuit board and the second circuit board. The array connector causes the first circuit board to be in electrical communication with the second circuit board. A clamping arrangement is provided for urging the first circuit board and the second circuit board toward each other, so as to exert a force against the array connector and cause an electrical connection between the first circuit board and the second circuit board. The clamping arrangement includes a back-up plate positionable adjacent to a major surface of the second circuit board, and an arm pivotally connected to the back-up plate. The arm is pivotable to a closed position so that the arm is located adjacent to a major surface of, and presses against, the first circuit board, to urge the first circuit board and the second circuit board toward each other and exert the force against the array connector. Further, the arm is pivotable to an opened position whereby the force is no longer exerted.

Enhanced hardware arrangement for mounting a plurality of circuit boards

A divider for preventing a card device from contacting another card device or other electrical component includes a planar member, and locating and securing features which serve to locate the planar member with respect to a card connector, a card planer board, and to locate and secure a card device with respect to the divider.

Divider for PCI card concurrent maintenance

An apparatus for preventing leakage of electromagnetic radiation from a modular electronic planar substrate surrounded by an enclosure that includes a bottom portion, a top portion, a first side portion having apertures adapted for receiving electronic cables, and a second side portion having electrical connections therein. The apparatus includes a bracket having a first end and a second end, the bracket connected to the first side portion, wherein the bracket includes an interior portion and an outer portion which contiguously form a first bracket wall, a second bracket wall and a third bracket wall, such that the second bracket wall is positioned approximately perpendicular to the first bracket wall and the third bracket wall. A first cover and a second cover each have Z-sectional bends which contact the interior portion of the bracket at the first bracket wall and the third bracket wall to respectively form sealed seams which prevent electromagnetic radiation associated with the electronic planar substrate from leaking beyond the enclosure. In addition, the apparatus includes a first grounding spring and a second grounding spring respectively mounted at the first end and the second end of the bracket to provide a ground path from the enclosure to associated enclosures and assist in preventing the electromagnetic radiation associated with the electronic planar substrate from leaking beyond the enclosure. The interior portion of the bracket wraps about the first side portion and flattens the first cover and the second cover respectively against the first bracket wall and the third bracket wall to provide rigid structural support to the enclosure.

Apparatus for preventing leakage of electromagnetic radiation from

A hot docking mechanism enables a PCI type card with an edge connector to be inserted into an enclosure and docked in a card socket on the motherboard without operator access to the enclosure interior. A card holder carries the card and is supported on a card guide for sliding motion into the enclosure to a position at which the edge connector is aligned with the socket secured to the device motherboard. A camming assembly includes a sliding cam operable from outside the enclosure to convert horizontal sliding motion to vertical motion of the card into and out of the socket. The card holder is cammed out of the sliding support of the card guide during docking and returned to sliding support when the camming mechanism undocks the card. The card guide also comprises a rail that guides the card holder within the enclosure during both card docked and card undocked conditions. The card holder supports and enhances circuit card rigidity while the camming assembly, supported on the lower mother board surface beneath the socket, increases mother board rigidity during docking and undocking. The card is supported on the card holder and the camming connections are disposed at the longitudinal ends and aligned with the socket to minimize pitch and yaw during card docking and undocking.

Apparatus for auto docking PCI cards

A spring carrier assembly to attenuate EMI, including an elongated multileaf conductive spring and an elongated carrier. The elongated multileaf conductive spring has a free edge and curved edge. The elongated carrier has a first edge section encompassing the curved edge and a second edge section encompassing the free edge, wherein portions of the conductive spring are exposed and may contact electronic modules in use. The carrier includes a first pivot member formed at a first end of the first edge section of the carrier and second pivot member formed a second end of the first edge section. Spring carriers assemblies may be placed within a housing for receiving electronic modules. Placement of a number of spring carrier assemblies within the housing forms one or more arrays of spring carrier assemblies. An electronic module may be placed within the housing between two arrays of the spring carrier assembly. The spring carrier assemblies pivot or rotate away from the electronic module to allow placement of the module within the housing. Upon insertion of the adjacent electronic module, the spring carrier assembly rotates back into a position parallel to the first electronic module, wherein the conductive springs contact the electronic modules providing EMI grounding.

Chassis mounted electromagnetic interference grounding assembly for

The invention relates to an electromagnetic control (EMC) contact strip. In one embodiment, the strip is mounted to an electrically conductive surface which is adapted to slide in a direction into and out of engagement with another electrically conductive surface. The strip has a base having a length, and a contact formed along the length of the base and defined by a plurality of inverted V-shaped members projecting therefrom. The inverted V-shaped members are compressible in a direction towards the base upon application of a force against the inverted V-shaped members in a direction substantially perpendicular to the length of the base.

Sliding electromagnetic control contact device

Assembling a circuit card to a straddle mount connector with improved alignment. A holder using a parallel linkage holds the card parallel to the connector despite thickness variations, during solder bonding.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester, MN, United States of America

James L Peacock